Maharashtra power distribution utility says no power cuts this summer

The demand for power on Friday increased from an average 17,500 megawatt (MW) to 19,000 MW, which was successfully fulfilled. This was the highest demand so far this summerShekhar Paigude | TNN | Updated: March 04, 2017, 08:46 IST

Kolhapur: Maharashtra will remain free from load shedding this summer even as the demand for electricity is sharply increasing, thanks to short and long-term agreements signed by the power company MSEDCL.

"The demand for power on Friday increased from an average 17,500 megawatt (MW) to 19,000 MW, which was successfully fulfilled. This was the highest demand so far this summer," P S Patil, the power company's PRO, told TOI.

"We are expecting the demand to remain around 19,000 MW in the next three months. The demand is highest from the Mumbai area," he added.

A source in the MSEDCL said the company has surplus power to mitigate rising demand. "Demand from the agricultural sector will come down after March 15 and the remaining power can be used to mitigate residential demand. Therefore, there is no reason to worry."

“To save the environment and to fight climate change, my government has planned a major campaign. By 2022, we want to generate 175 GW of renewable energy. In the last three years, we have already achieved 60 GW or around one-third of this target,” he said.